When I read the short synopsis of Warrior, I was drawn in by the MMA (mixed martial arts) fighting. Like many other guys(and some girls too), I have always been intrigued by such brutal, anything-goes-style of hand-to-hand(and sometimes even knee-to-face) combat. Personally, I really want to learn Muay Thai(an insane and extreme version of kickboxing, famous for its kicks performed with the shins) and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu(a ground based grappling technique, these are are a fairly common combination of standing game and ground game), but that isn’t important. What is important is the fact that this incredible movie flew under everyone’s radar. Even mine until I found it a while ago, and it left me in awe.

The 2011 movie stars Joel Edgerton as Brendan Conlon, Tom Hardy as his brother Tommy, and Nick Nolte as their father Paddy. Before this movie, Hardy and Edgerton’s roles had been fairly insignificant in films up to that point, and the largest(in my opinion of course) role between the two was Tom Hardy as “Eames” In Inception.

The movie got great reviews, “beautiful,” “heart wrenching,” “a touching family drama…” Despite these reviews, the movie failed to even make back its budget. Most movie-critic sites gave the film generous reviews, like Rotten Tomatoes with an 83%. IMDB gave it a solid 8.2(out of 10) and it even reached #153 on the sites 250 best movies of all time. While that may not seem to be any huge achievement, it is a movie that almost no one has heard of, on a list of the best 250 movies ever made.

Now that it’s obvious that no one has ever heard of this movie, I’ll tell you what I thought about it. I’ve seen it plenty of times, but I really want you to see it, so I will keep this free of spoilers.

The Conlons were never the most functional family. Former boxer Paddy Conlon was an alcoholic whose addiction tore the family apart. His wife left him, and youngest son Tommy went with her. Paddy drinks himself into a stupor that destroys his relationship with his sons and wife. Eventually, he finds Jesus and becomes sober, but the destroyed relationships are not healed like his addiction was.

Tommy Conlon was a child prodigy wrestling star. His father trained him rigorously throughout his youth, and Tommy was an up and coming star until he left with his mother. Brendan stayed with their dad, and Tommy considers this a betrayal. He completely disconnects himself from both of them. When Tommy and Brendan’s mother becomes seriously ill, Tommy refuses to even tell his father and brother. Too poor to afford and treatment, she suffers and eventually dies. Tommy joins the marines and finds himself in a new family. His life took another dark turn when his entire squad was killed in an American bombing, including his best friend.

Brendan grew up in the shadow of his younger brother, even their dad seemed to favor his younger son. When his mother left, Brendan chose to stay in hopes of finally getting the attention he deserves, as well as to stay with his girlfriend who he grew up to marry. He too was a fighter by trade, and even made it into the UFC(the most popular league of professional MMa fighters) early in its life. When he and his wife had their two daughters, he left the UFC for a more family oriented job, science teacher. When his youngest daughter started having heart problems, the medical bills overwhelmed the family and they have struggled to get by.

The movie opens on Tommy(now using his mom’s maiden name) shows up at his father’s house after 14 years without talking. Meanwhile, Brendan and his wife’s jobs just don’t make enough for them to get by, and after every option is explored, the bank threatens them with foreclosure. Brendan breaks his promise to his wife and starts to fight in small-time MMA fights, and when this is discovered by his employer, he is suspended without pay.

When a huge, all or nothing MMA tournament called “Sparta” is organized, both brothers decide to try to get themselves in. The single elimination, 16 man tournament would feature only the world’s top fighters, and after two days brutal fights, the winner would walk away with $5 million.

After Tommy savagely beats down one of the world’s top fighters in his own gym, he recruits his dad to train him for ”Sparta.” Brendan convinces his desperate wife to let him keep fighting, and he joins the gym of his old friend and trainer. The brothers undergo the brutal process of training for the biggest MMA event the world has ever seen.

Miraculously, both Tommy and Brendan earn themselves a spot in the tournament. Tommy becomes a mysterious dark horse, and Tom Hardy conveys the painful rage of a man whose life had been destroyed, not once, but twice. Joel Edgerton makes you feel the sense of complete desperation that the character feels. With nowhere else to turn, this old school teacher must fight to save his wife and two young daughters from a world of poverty and pain.

Before the tournament, the brothers meet. The first time the brothers have spoken in nearly 15 years, the pain, betrayal and anger pours out. In one of my favorite scenes, years of bottled up emotions burst out.

The climactic tournament not only provides an incredibly well made series of brutal fights, but it provides the backdrop that makes every second feel like the most important second of the movie.

Tommy, the broken, rage-fueled, rebellious, mysterious, military man is easily identifiable with many people. He has never had an easy time in life, and his potential for a great and meaningful life has been ripped away twice.

Brendan, the family man, honest, relatable, the underdog, is relatable to people who may have experienced a different life. He worked hard, and early success in life eventually failed, he represents those that just can’t get a break, desperate for any way to repay his crippling debt or get kicked onto the streets.

The actor’s performances were incredible, and I felt deeply for each of these characters as the brutal tournament took its toll on the mind and body of the brothers and their dad.

The final moments of the film defy the norm as an epic fight becomes the most emotional moment in a movie I have ever experienced. Usually the movie ends with me nearly in tears.

Overall, this movie-despite being fairly predictable- turns out to be one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, but it seems like I must be the only one who has seen it! I highly suggest that you find this film(heck, I’ll even give you a copy if you can’t find one anywhere else), and watch the phenomenal work of beautiful and violently emotional art that is Warrior.